On 29 March, the European Union and the Republic of Uzbekistan held the 18th meeting of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement’s Sub-Committee on Justice and Home Affairs, Human Rights and related issues. The meeting was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

This annual meeting covered a wide range of topics, including human rights- and democracy-related issues, counter terrorism, migration and border management, drugs policies, and the fight against corruption. The EU and Uzbekistan are intensifying their dialogue and cooperation across a broad range of activities, reflecting the EU’s 2019 Strategy on Central Asia, and Uzbekistan’s ongoing ambitious programme of reforms. This meeting was held back-to-back with the EU’s first GSP+ monitoring  mission to Uzbekistan. The EU granted Uzbekistan GSP+ (enhanced General System of Preferences) unilateral trade preferences in April 2021. The GSP+ allows beneficiaries preferential access to the EU market. It is conditional upon the  effective implementation of 27 core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental and climate protection, and good governance.

The Sub-Committee reviewed and discussed recent developments in Uzbekistan and in the EU relating to human rights, democracy, justice and home affairs. Participants agreed on the important role of civil society in providing checks and balances and for the rule of law. The Sub-Committee reflected on how best to enable civil society organisations to fully perform their important role to foster Uzbekistan’s resilience and prosperity. 

The EU welcomed the International Labour Organisation’s recent finding that Uzbekistan successfully eliminated systemic child and forced labour during the 2021 cotton harvest, and called on Uzbekistan to maintain its vigilance in this regard. In line with Uzbekistan’s membership of the UN Human Rights Council, the EU welcomed the country’s openness to UN scrutiny and called the country to continue to strengthen its involvement with UN Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, as well as to implement decisions of UN working groups. The EU raised Russia’s war against Ukraine and its people and recalled the resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 2 March and on 24 March demanding an end to the Russian offensive.

Notwithstanding positive developments in the context of Uzbekistan's reform programme, the EU registered its concerns at a number of challenges existing in Uzbekistan related to the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, registration of NGOs, and anti-discrimination.  The EU called on Uzbekistan to do more to defend the rights of journalists, independent bloggers and human rights defenders to carry out their activities without harassment, and to promptly investigate cases where bloggers or protesters have been attacked, ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The EU also emphasised the need to investigate alleged case of torture and to guarantee unhindered monitoring of detention facilities. Uzbekistan presented its priorities and measures to modernise its legal system and to improve the business climate, as well as to fight corruption. Domestic violence, gender equality and freedom of religion or belief were also discussed.  The EU reiterated its commitment to support Uzbekistan in the pursuit of its reform agenda.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues including violent extremism and radicalisation, counter-terrorism, migration and border management, and the fight against illicit drugs. The EU’s cooperation and dialogue programmes such as BOMCA (Border Management in Central Asia), CADAP (Central Asia Drug Action Programme), and LEICA (Law Enforcement in Central Asia) provide an important platform for cooperation and support in these policy areas.

During its preparation of this Sub-Committee meeting, the EU met representatives of local and international NGOs, EU Member States, as well as other international partners.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Dietmar Krissler, Head of Division for Central Asia in the European External Action Service, and by Mr Muzraf Ikramov, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan.